A serial flytipper from Leeds had his van crushed after the owner was caught on CCTV dumping waste illegally in Pudsey.
Martin Hughes, of Town Street, Armley, is facing a 15-month custodial sentence after pleading guilty to six counts of fly-tipping and one duty of care offence at Leeds Crown Court.
Leeds City Council’s environmental enforcement officers launched an investigation into Hughes and they gathered evidence from several fly tips they were able to link back to him.
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The investigation uncovered that Hughes was operating a commercial waste removal business without the appropriate licences and disposing of commercial and household waste illegally across Leeds in 2018 and 2019.
He was linked to multiple incidents of fly tipping in the Pudsey area, council officers strategically deployed CCTV cameras at the fly tip hotspot location to detect further offences.
Hughes was caught on camera dumping waste from his van on a further two occasions at the same location and further evidence also linked him to other incidents of fly tipping.
In September 2019, the van was spotted and seized by council officers.
During a search of the vehicle, they found it to be full of household waste including sofas, wood, and garden waste.
Hughes didn’t come forward to claim the van as it had “little recoverable value” and it was subsequently crushed and scrapped.
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Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment and housing, said: “Fly tipping is recognised as a national issue. However, Leeds City Council has a very clear message: we will not tolerate fly tipping in Leeds and will continue to prosecute anyone who believes that they can flout the rules and blight our communities and environment. It is pleasing to see the courts using their custodial sentencing power to show that fly tipping is not worth the price.
“We have recently announced the establishment of a new Serious Environment Crime Team, which will allow the council to dedicate even more time investigating and tracking down those waste collection companies and individuals who are illegally operating and creating many of the fly tips that occur in Leeds.”
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